High Major OL Talks Duke Visit

John Watson

10/22/2008

Perhaps the biggest target - both figuratively and in stature - in the class of 2010 is local offensive tackle Robert Crisp of Chapel Hill (N.C.) High School. On Saturday the likely five star prospect spent the day in Durham watching the Blue Devils against Miami.

"I had a good time at Duke," said Robert Crisp. "It was a chance for me to meet the coaches face to face for the first time and I got to see the campus and tour the different facilities."

If those in attendance for the Blue Devils' tilt against the Hurricanes mistakenly thought Crisp should have been on the field, it's understandable. At 6-foot-8, and 290 pounds he certainly passes the 'look test' of a high major recruit, and it takes just a few seconds watching "Big Rob" move around on tape to know that's exactly what he is.

Despite his massive frame, Crisp runs the forty yard dash in under five seconds and has been a standout basketball player on the local AAU circuit for some time. At Chapel Hill High he's played both left tackle and nose guard - earning All-Conference honors at both positions.

"I'm always working to improve, but right now I'd say my footwork is one of best attributes."

Usually such a big time player is focused primarily on which football program he'll be signing with, but Crisp is taking the approach of using his sport - which will likely transform into a career for some years after college - to get a top flight education.

"That's the most important thing for me - to get a great education and Duke would certainly accomplish that. I was actually pretty familiar with Duke in the sense that I grew up a Duke basketball fan and when I was playing I would go over there and work out as much as I could."

Regarding the recruiting process, Crisp can essentially right his ticket to any program in the country. Virtually the entire ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and most of the SEC have offered scholarships. Despite the mountains of scholarship offers, Crisp says he's going to focus on football and will make some more visits as the process continues.

"I don't really have any kind of timeline. I think I'm going to wait until my senior year."